Faucet



Nov. 6, 1923.

w. H. SMITH FAUCET I Filed Dec. 15 1 Patented Nov, 5, 1923.

i i lidizfilt r reins.

WILLIAM H. gMTTH, 0? EAST CLEVELAND, OHIO.

FAUCETS;

Application filed December 15, 1919. Serial No. $4,901.

a citizen of the United. States, residing at East Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement 1n Faucets,

of which the following is a full, clear, and exa description, reference being had tothe actu .npanying drawings.

This invention relates to faucets, and more particularly to that class of faucets which may be locked to prevent tampering therewith.

The objects of the present invention are to provide a faucet with an improved type of detachable wrench and means for locking the stem against rotation by means of said wrench; to provide a faucet which shall consist of few and simple parts that are easy and inexpensive to manufacture; while further objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing wherein I have shown an illustrative embodiment of my invention, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the faucet with the handle in the operative position; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the handle in a position to be locked; and Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the upper part of the valve stem.

Describing the various parts by reference numerals, 1 indicates the casing enclosing any suitable type of valve which has a rotatable stem 2 projecting therethrough. The casing is preferably a casting and has formed integral therewith on one'side of its body portion a lug 3, which is provided with an opening l extending therethrough. The usual packing gland 6 is positioned about the stem and in this case the gland nut 7 has formed on its upper face an upwardly extending collar 8 encircling the valve stem and lever with the top thereof. The purpose of this collar-is to restrict the squared head of the stem 2 to a special or socket wrench, and prevent the use of an ordinary monkev wrench or similar tool for opening the valve.

The wrench for operating and locking the valve is of a special shape and preferably consists of a handle 10 having two socket members 11 and 12 disposed one at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the handle 10 and one parallel therewith, the sockets being, at the same time, at right angles to each other. The integral curved arm 1 L connecting the two socket members 'is of such shape as to clear the collar when the socket member 12 is seated on the valvestem and permit the handle '10 to project closely past the body of the valve." The end of the handle removed from the sockets is formed with a hole 15 adapted to register with the opening when the socketmember 12' engages'the valve stem in the closed position, as shown in Fig. 2. A padlock may be used to fasten the handle to the lug 3 and prevent the turning of the valve stem or the removal of the wrench itself therefrom.

In use on liquid dispensing devices such as gasolene wagons, the driver may remove the wrench from the faucet while making trips between stations and at night when leaving the wagon he may lock the wrench in place and thereby prevent the valve from being opened by unauthorized persons.

It is obvious that in some uses wherein it might be desirable to lock the valve in an open position, this may be readily ac comolished by opening the valve first and then locking the handle to the lug 3.

I have shown the socket 12 as formed with a round hole since this is easier to make than a square one, and equally prevents any tampering although I do not restrict myself to this shape or'even to a condition wherein the hole passes entirely through the socket.

I claim is l. A faucet comprising a casing having a lug thereon, a valve insaid casing having a stem projecting therethrousrh, a detachable wrench having a handle and a pair of socket members thereon, one of said members being engasreable with said stem to position said handle in an operative position, and the other of said members being engageable with said stem to position said handle adjacent said lug: whereby said parts may be locked to render said valve inoperative.

2. A faucet comprising a casing having a valve therein and a valve stem projecting therethrough, a collar surrounding the upper part of said valve stem, a handle having a wrench portion engageable with said stem to turn the same and another portion adapted to shield the same and means whereby said handle may be locked to the casing when applied in the last described position.

3. A faucet comprising a casing having a valve therein and a valve stem projecting therethrough, a detachable wrench having a handle and a socket member engageable with said stem to operate said valve, a second socket member attached to the handle and having its axis substantially parallel to said handle, said second socket member being engageable with said stem to position said handle along the side of said casing and means for locking said wrench to said casing. 7

4. A faucet comprising a casing having a valve therein and a valve stem projecting therethrough, a locking lug on said casing, a detachable wrench having a handle and two socket members engageable with said stem, one of said socket members being engageable with said stem to position said handle along the side of said casing in operative relation to said 11w.

A faucet wrench comprising a handle and socket members attached thereto, one of said socket members lying at right angles to the handle and the other being connected thereto by an arm and extending in the same direction from said arm as the handle and parallel to said handle.

6. A faucet, comprising a casing having a valve therein, a valve stem extending from said valve and through said casing, a lug on the side ot'said asing, a handle having a socket member thereon positioned so that when fitted over said stem said handle will be in position to be locked to said lug.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

' WILLIAM H. SMITH. 

